Modi claims India has ‘deflated’ Pakistan’s nuclear threat

The PM told a rally in Indian-administered Kashmir that the lack of nuclear retaliation following February’s air strike proved the threat of war was false

His Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have made national security the focus of their campaign in this year’s elections

Reading Time:2 minutes

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during an election campaign south of Jammu city. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:59pm, 14 Apr 2019Updated: 9:59pm, 14 Apr 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India had called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff in recent cross-border air strikes that almost triggered a new war between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have made national security the focus of their campaign for a national election now being held.

Indian people wearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi masks cheer as they attend his election campaign rally. Photo: EPA

The prime minister told an election rally that an air strike inside Pakistan in February had shown that warnings hostilities could escalate into nuclear conflict were false.

“Pakistan has threatened us with nuclear, nuclear, nuclear,” Modi told an election rally in Indian-administered Kashmir near the border with Pakistan.

“Did we deflate their nuclear threat or not?” he asked the crowd that chanted “Modi, Modi, Modi” in response.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x